|
|
|
|
|
So What Is This "Euthanasia List" Anyway?
As someone who has had something to do with Clermont Pets Alive (CPA!), you’ve heard us talk about “the euthanasia list.” Based on comments received on the Facebook page not everyone knows what we’re talking about.
So here’s the scoop. There didn’t used to be “a list.” That changed recently when some local animal lovers found out that most of the cats and dogs that went in the front door of the Clermont County Animal Shelter rarely made it out alive. Published statistics at the time (2011), showed 81% of the puppies, dogs, kittens, and dogs were euthanized…put down…killed.
This made the animals lovers very, very angry. They were so upset they decided to do something about it. The animal lovers tried to talk to the Clermont County Humane Society (CCHS), the group that runs the shelter. That group was not interested in making any changes. The CCHS Board of Directors was perfectly content killing 81% of the animals that came to the shelter, following PETA’s belief that “euthanasia is often the most compassionate and dignified way for unwanted animals to leave the world.”
The animal lovers got even more angry and decided to get the help of Clermont County officials. Since the services provided at the facility were under contract by the Commissioners, they wanted the government folks to be aware of what was truly going on at the shelter. After lots of hard work and persistence, the animal lovers made some progress.
Here’s where the “euthanasia list” comes in. After agreeing on July 5 th but finalizing on October 2 nd (2013), the Clermont County Commissioners named CPA! the “ K-9 Designee.” With the signing of the contract, a new process was begun.
- CCHS retains the right to decide, by their standards, whether or not a dog is considered “adoptable.” (Cats were not included in the contract. CCHS, however, has been graciously providing CPA! euthanasia information to CPA! on the cats and kittens, too.)
If CCHS does not consider a dog to be “adoptable” they will euthanize the dog immediately (or after minimum time requirements are met).
- If the shelter is full, if CCHS thinks a dog might be adoptable but it’s been there too long, or if the dog needs medical care (which is not provided at the shelter), the animal(s) will be put on the “euthanasia list.” This list puts CPA! on notice that unless the dog is “tagged” to be taken by CPA! it will be put to death at close of business the next day.
- The “euthanasia list” is then e-mailed simultaneously to a CPA! volunteer and an employee with the County Commissioners office.
- At the time sent on the e-mail, the clock starts ticking. CPA! has exactly 24 hours to decide if it can and will take the dog(s) into its foster-to-adopt program or network it to a local rescue group to give it a second chance. CPA! volunteers race to the shelter to assess the dog’s overall physical and mental health, determine if immediate medical attention is needed, learn its story, take photos, and write a bio.
- At the 24 hour mark, CPA! sends a response to the CCHS and the employee with the County Commissioners office saying “yes” or “no” to accepting the dog(s) on the list. So far, with your donations, CPA! has been able to say “yes” 100% of the time in 2014.
- At 48 hours after the initial e-mail, the dog(s) must be removed (“pulled”) from the CCHS premises.
So if you hear us saying that the CPA! dogs were within 24 hours of dying, this is what has gone on behind the scenes. CPA! never knows for certain when a list will be issued or how many dogs will be on it. This is why the “URGENT” Facebook posts take center stage. The clock really has already begun ticking for a few hours before there’s even time to post!
What is amazing all of this takes place at a cost of $0.00. CCHS does not charge the usual adoption fee to CPA! and CPA! receives no money from the shelter or the County for saving animals lives. This also explains why the CPA! “URGENT” posts will include a donation link.
All of CPA!’s success – the giving the homeless animals of Clermont County a second chance - is due to your volunteer efforts, cooperation among the local animal lovers, people like you offering foster homes, everyone’s educating the public of the necessity of spay and neuter, and your donations. Thank you for being a part of CPA! and sharing our story. |
|
SHARE ** SHARE ** SHARE **
SAVE more animals from euthanasia by sharing their story on facebook.
If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when animals needing rescue from death are part of an "Urgent" posting on facebook, signup here. This list will ONLY be used to notify you of animals requiring rescue.
|
|
|
|
A Tale of Tails
This part of the CPA! News is all yours. We would like to share your stories of a CPA! cat and/or dog adoption with others. Just e-mail newsletter@ClermontPetsAlive.org. If you just want to give your phone number, we can call to have you tell us the story and then we’ll write it for you. If you’d like to write the article, that’s great, too!
For this issue, I’d like to share my shelter story with you. CPA! did not exist when this one came to be and it makes me shudder thinking of what could have happened. Here is the story of Little O. |
|
We missed our Miss T. A blood vessel had burst in her belly and she could not be saved. It was sudden, unexpected, and heart breaking. We knew there would never be another one like her. We also knew that something was missing. So began the online search.
There were listings for thousands even millions of homeless little ones and they weren't all prettied up and photographed on a website. We knew from experience that the real majority sat on concrete floors behind metal cages with barks echoing through cavernous, smelly facilities. Still the reality of it felt like a smack in the face when I walked into the ccas that day several years ago. There were dogs of every make and size. Some even had collars and ID tags on the chain link doors - just no one to claim them. I walked through the whole dog area once and really had to try hard not to gravitate to my favorites. This new addition was to be for my husband, in memory of his Miss T.
On my second walk through, I saw a dog I'd missed the first time. In between two cells with big dogs was a silent, little, tan furball. The dog was sitting perfectly still, gazing up with his tongue hanging out to the side of his mouth, staring with big brown eyes as if to say "I'm ready to go now." The little one was listed as a young, male, unneutered Pekingese that came to the shelter as a stray. We visited and though we did not bond that was okay since he needed to attach to hubby. He did not bark and his voice was that of an ewok or a gremlin, squeaking almost. I made the decision to adopt him but was disappointed to learn that I couldn't take him home until after he'd had his "tutoring" surgery. So much for making the introductions at home before hubby returned from a trip!
Timing is everything and in this case, it worked out. The next day our basset had two episodes that were classified as seizures. Monday turned into a half day at work, followed by an emergency run to one vet with the bassett and a trek out to another vet 20 miles away at a spay & neuter clinic to pick up the new addition. Little O, as the new addition was named, was in pain, confused, tired, and overwhelmed. The vet determined that his cute tongue hanging out and misshaped rib cage were actually due to an old injury, perhaps from being hit by a car. We were told that we would have to determine what type of food Little O could tolerate.
The introductions went okay but the pecking order had to be worked out. Thank goodness Little O showed some "attitude" and had no problem putting the bigger dogs in their place if play time got too rough. It took a week for him to begin feeling better, adjust to the new food, and to start to come out of his shell. He loved the fact that there were toys to play with and began running laps in the bag yard after dinner each night. Yes, we also found that Little O could bark but he always had a reason to do so.
Please don’t think, however, that it was all wonderful. Little O had difficulty eating and x-rays revealed that his jaw bone was broken in two places, which meant one piece of bone was “floating.” Our vet did the best she could to clean his teeth but it was soon apparent that extractions were needed. Luckily, at the time Cincinnati was home to the only board certified veterinary dentist in the state and we were able to take Little O to him for treatment before he recently retired.
Little O does pretty well with eating now but still “has his days.” His diet is special and his chin and face always need to be cleaned. He still flies like the wind when he does his backyard laps and wubba toys are his alone. Little O has been a welcome addition to our family - even if I did screw up adopting a male, shedding, non poodle/schnauzer, mama's boy. His face says it all!
|
|
|
Where to Find Your Next Furry Friend, and...
Have a GOOD TIME
Regular Adoption Locations
Saturdays 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM Petsmart – Eastgate
Saturdays 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM Petsmart – Milford Parkway
Fridays 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Petsmart – Eastgate
Saturdays 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Petsmart – Eastgate
Saturdays 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Petsmart – Milford Parkway
Saturdays 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Petco – Milford (Route 28)
Sundays 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Petsmart - Eastgate
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Petsmart – Milford Parkway
Special Events to Check Out
A Portion of Entire day’s sales will be donated to CPA!
Dog Adoption & Mingle 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
|
|
|
K-9 Designee Report
Our single measure of effectiveness is the live release rate for animals from the Clermont County Animal Shelter. Our mission is to increase the save rate to over 90% for all animals. The Clermont County Humane Society (CCHS) stopped reporting statistics for cats when they approved their 2013 contract requiring them to make dogs scheduled for euthanasia available to the county's K-9 Designee (currently Clermont Pets Alive!). Here's how they finished 2013.
|
|
|
Clermont Pets Alive! finalized its contract with the Board of County Commissioners as their K-9 Designee in October 2013. In the ten weeks CPA rescued dogs from euthanasia at the shelter in 2013, we increased the annual save rate for dogs by five (5) percent, rescuing 41 dogs while facilitating the rescue of another 13 dogs to other rescues.
|
|
|
Pointers
With Cincinnati’s long standing tradition of celebrating Labor Day with fireworks, be sure to keep your pets in a safe and secure place. If your dogs are especially sensitive to the loud noise, using a leash – even in the back yard – might help to keep them inside the fence during stressful times.
|
|
|
|
Thank You for Your Support
Clermont Pets Alive! is ever so grateful for all donations of money, goods, and time (from volunteers) it has received. There are also a few companies that deserve notice for their part in making CPA! adoptions happen.
- All Creatures Animal Hospital – Amelia Vet & Boarding Services
- Petsmart – Eastgate Weekly Adoption Events
- Petsmart – Milford Parkway Weekly Adoption Events
24/7 Cat Showcases
- Petco – Milford Weekly Adoption Events
24/7 Cat Showcases
- Tractor Supply – Batavia Monthly Dog Adoption Events
- Kroger Marketplace – Amelia 1st Anniversary Celebration
Dog Adoption Event
- The Lounge – Anderson Township $200.00 Fundraiser Donation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
